Horrifying UPS cargo plane crash caught on VIDEO
Footage suggests the aircraft was on fire even before it left the ground
Dramatic video footage has emerged online showing the moment a UPS cargo jet crashed immediately after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, killing at least seven people.
One of the clips, apparently filmed by airport employees, appears to show the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 already engulfed in flames as it rolled down the runway.
Moments later, a massive fireball and thick black smoke erupt at the end of the runway, consistent with reports of an explosion near or shortly after liftoff.
Other footage, filmed by bystanders, reportedly captures the moment the jet tore through and obliterated several buildings near the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that UPS Flight 2976 crashed at around 5:15pm local time, shortly after departing from Louisville for Honolulu. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the crash site, which remains an “active scene with fire and debris.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and has not yet verified the contents of the circulating videos. Both the NTSB and FAA have stressed that the information surrounding the crash remains preliminary.